News: Clark Co. – Historical Society Meeting (4 May 1972)

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Garbusch, Skerbeck, Bremer, Greaser

----Source: Tribune/Phonograph (Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wis.) 11 May 1972

About 80 persons were present at the meeting of the Clark County Historical Society Thursday night in Municipal Hall. Miss Florence Garbusch presided, as plans for a summer picnic were discussed. Have a “flea Market” was also discussed.

Miss Garbusch called for volunteers to help prepare the lot on which the Colby depot will be moved. Miss Elsie Bremer spoke on “Wisconsin, the Cradle of Circus World,” with special emphasis on the Skerbeck family of Dorchester. Miss Bremer told of the early family life of the Skerbecks, which dates back some eighty years. “Grandpa” Skerbeck owned a circus and all member of the large family took part in some phase of show business.

She mentioned that one time they drove a wagon train to Arkansas to put on the circus. One of the old circus wagons owned by the Skerbecks and their merry-go-round organ is now on display at Circus World Museum at Baraboo. In later years, Miss Bremer said, the family split up, and several members started their own carnival shows.

One of these, the Skerbeck Amusement Co., still operated shows, usually in Michigan, each summer. Miss Pauline Skerbeck, part owner of the company, and her sister, Mrs. George Greaser, still live in Dorchester.

Several members of the audience participated in the discussion by telling of little incidents in the Skerbeck show business. Picture taken over the years of the Skerbeck shows and family life were on display and a recording of music of the organ was played during the program.

The next meeting of the Historical Society will be June 1 at the Butler Town Hall.